Season Dates:

Full-Service Season
June 2, 2022 – September 17, 2022
June 1, 2023 – September 16, 2023

Self-Service Season
September 21, 2022 – December, 2022
January 1, 2023 – May 28, 2023
September 20, 2023 – January 1, 2024

With its two detached bunkhouses and the main stone hut, Carter Notch Hut is open year-round. During the full-service summer and fall seasons, fuel up with delicious, homemade breakfasts and dinners for the day’s exploration of the Carter and Wildcat ranges. During self-service season, snowshoe the 3.8 miles to reach this hut and encounter a world of rock jumbles, towering cliffs, and tranquil mountain lakes in the seemingly endless Wild River Wilderness.

Carter Notch Hut offers co-ed bunkhouses and separate washrooms with composting toilets and cold water sinks. AMC Huts are in backcountry locations and are “off the grid,” meaning they are only accessible by hiking. Bunkhouses are not heated, have no lighting, and no electrical outlets. Bunkhouses stay cold, so bring an appropriately rated sleeping bag and a headlamp or flashlight for your overnight visit.

The legendary AMC hut “croo” or caretakers are available to assist you with trip planning, trail information, and weather reports while our Hut Naturalist offers daily programs about the local flora and fauna, geology, and hut history before and after dinner in full-service season.

Full-Service

Cold running water is available in the washrooms. Blankets and pillows will no longer be provided at the huts but sleeping bag, pillows, and gear rentals are available through Effortless Adventures. Dinner and breakfast are included with your stay. Breakfast is served family-style at 7 a.m. sharp and includes eggs with pancakes or a baked good, plus hot cereal, fruit, and breakfast meat, such as bacon or sausage, with coffee, cocoa, or tea. Dinner is served family-style at 6 p.m. sharp and includes fresh bread, soup, salad, a hearty entrée, and dessert. Please notify AMC Contact Service Center if you have food allergies or other dietary restrictions. Bring your own lunch; otherwise soup and baked goods are available for purchase from10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Please carry in/carry out all personal trash and recyclables, in accordance with Leave No Trace protocol.

Self-Service

Open for self-service from mid-fall through the end of May.  A caretaker is available from 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. and from 7 p.m. to 10 a.m. The caretaker may light a fire in the main building after 4 p.m. Guests pack in their own food and have full use of the hut’s stove, oven, cookware, and service ware. There is no running water in the kitchen or in washrooms during self-service. Caretaker provides boiled lake water for cooking, drinking and cleaning. Please carry in/carry out all personal trash and recyclables, in accordance with Leave No Trace protocol. For more details on staying at the hut during the winter season, read here.

Cancellation Policies

Learn more about AMC’s cancellation policies for lodging and programs.

Trail Access

The 19 Mile Brook trailhead parking area is located on the north side of NH Route 16, approximately one mile north of the Mount Washington Auto Road. This moderate 3.8 mile hike includes a steady uphill grade on rocky terrain. The trail parallels the Nineteen Mile Brook for 1.9 miles and then climbs a bit more steeply over the next 1.9 miles to the height of land. Footing is stable with some steep rocky sections and an elevation gain of 2000 feet. On average, hikers should plan for 2.5 to 4 hours.

Getting Around

AMC’s Hiker Shuttle connects the Highland Center, Pinkham Notch Visitor Center, and the towns of Lincoln and Gorham with major trails to the huts, allowing hikers to start and end their trip at different points. The stop in the town of Lincoln is coordinated with Concord Coach bus service. Hiker Shuttle runs daily for most of the full-service hut season, from early June to mid-September. The shuttle operates on weekends only from mid-September to mid-October. Reservations are strongly recommended.

Weather

The right clothing and gear are essential in the unpredictable weather of the Northeast’s mountains. Even if it feels like summer in the valleys, it can be cold and winter-like on the high peaks. Be prepared for severe weather regardless of season, dress in layers (including synthetic or wool base and insulating layers, and a windproof/waterproof outer shell), eat high energy foods, and stay hydrated.

Our Commitment to Sustainable Operations

AMC has a long-standing commitment to using its huts, lodges, and sporting camps as models for sustainable operations and environmental stewardship. At Carter Notch Hut we use solar panels and battery banks to run electricity and use LED lighting. The hut has composting toilets and we are committed to recycling and composting food.